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Margaret Dennis Swarts McClelland was buried in McGaw Cemetery; after the congregation purchased land for a church and burying ground in Cheapside she was disinterred and buried in Cheapside United Cemetery
CHEAPSIDE McGAW METHODIST CEMETERY
Location - Walpole, Concession 1 Lot 18
The Walpole Mission of the Methodist Church was organized in 1838 with the first services held in the McGaw School. In 1839 the Rainham Road though incomplete was opened for travel and 1839-40 saw the erection of the Methodist Church on the opposite corner to the school. On November 28th 1843 one half acre of land was purchased from Joseph Steele. This supposedly comprised of the land for the church and the burial ground. In 1868 the members of this congregation removed to Cheapside purchasing land there for a new church and cemetery.
Mrs. Steele told of many little children being buried at the McGaw cemetery due to a plague epidemic and also that several graves were opened and moved to other graveyards. The cemetery was cared for by free will offerings of money and labour. There were no charges for the burial plots. As the stones became broken and beyond repair, it was decided to place the stones in a straight row in a cement base. In 1955-56 most of the stones were removed. The Walpole Township Council sent in a grader to level the ground around the existing stones and a few interested persons made the cribbing for the base, poured the cement and reset the stones. They sowed grass seed and built a new fence which later had to be removed due to continued damage from car accidents on the corner.
In the earlier years the grass was cut about once a year with a scythe except for individuals who took care of their own family plots. As the power mowers came into use, the grass was cut and the cemetery cared for by two local men until the 1960's when it again came under the care of the church congregation at Cheapside and was soon considered abandoned and taken over by the City of Nanticoke.
McGaw Cemetery, a sacred spot beside a busy through way but a reminder of the first people who came to Walpole Township, of their love and sorrows in an earlier time when nature held sway and man was often alone with his God.
From:
North Erie Shore Historical Society
Cemetery History and Monument Inscriptions
Cheapside McGaw
CHEAPSIDE UNITED CEMETERY
Location - Walpole, Concession 3 Lot 19
On April 24th 1868 the McGaw Methodist Congregation purchased land from Mary Buckley for the sum of $5.00 for the purpose of building a new church in Cheapside. The church measured 32' x 50' with driving sheds and grounds.
On April 17th 1869 burial grounds were added. One half acre was purchased from Mary Buckley for $50.00. The first burial was for Mrs. I. Lemon in October of 1868. She was Dr. Sherk's sister and Oscar Shoup made the grave. July 3, 1886 land was again bought from Robert Buckley for $60.00. May 28, 1919 another addition was bought from Robert and Mary Buckley for $90.00.
In 1943 Mrs. Etta (Sherk) Shuter died and left a will donating $1,000.00 toward the upkeep of the Cheapside United Cemetery, also $1,000.00 for the erection of a monument on her plot. The monument that Mrs. Shuter had hoped to have erected was to be a replica of her cousin's monument that was in Mt. Healy Cemetery in Oneida Township. Unfortunately it was impossible to reproduce the stone for the amount stated but nevertheless a handsome stone was erected.
In 1950-51 a new brick church was erected and dedicated on May 24th 1951
From:
North Erie Shore Historical Society
Cemetery History and Monument Inscriptions
Cheapside United
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Rainham Builders
Abt 1827 - 1856 (~ 29 years)